Synthesis and transfer of RNAi construct for potential knock-down of gene expression of root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne graminicola) to rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Effectors play key roles in the parasitism of the plant-parasitic nematode. Silencing the effector-coding genes was applied to study the function and role of nematode effectors. In this study, the Mgra16281 gene (ID: MK322955.1) encoding an effector with the unknown function was cloned from the rice root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola isolated in Long An province. To knock-down the expression of this gene, an artificial microRNA was synthesized based on the Osa-MIR528 precursor and inserted into an expression vector. This microRNA can be expressed in rice to investigate the function of MGRA16281 of root-knot nematode via host-induced gene silencing approach (HIGS).